The 5 Lost Inventions of Nikola Tesla Which Could Have Changed the World

by Ane Krstevska

Because of his achievements and showmanship, the famous Nikola Tesla was well known as the “mad scientist.” During his lifetime, he has obtained around 300 patents around the world for his inventions. However, a lot of his inventions were not put into patent protection.

These patents actually helped him to earn a considerable amount of money which he used to fund his own private projects with varying degrees of success. Also, we can thank Tesla for the AC electric system which powers everything we use today. Here, we will mention a few of his projects which could have changed the world, for better or even for worse.

1. Free electricity system.

As Tesla has foreseen that the growing world would need new sources of energy, he set out to find some new ways to harness the energy of the planet Earth. He experimented with everything, for instance, from a machine which could gather heat from the ambient air (Wardenclyffe Tower), to working with liquefied air.

Tesla has discovered that useful energy/electricity could actually be taken from the heat in the ambient air and after that electric power which comes in the form of radiant energy could be broadcast to everyone around the world. All they would probably have to do is stick a special pole in the ground. Unluckily, there is not much money in free electricity.

However, his Wardenclyffe Tower was never finished, but his dream of providing energy to all the places in the world is still alive even today.

2. Death ray.

After Tesla studies the Van de Graff generator, he got the idea for a “teleforce” weapon which was also referred to as the “death ray” or “peace ray.”

The purpose which was proposed for this weapon was to be utilized against ground-based infantry or for anti-aircraft purposes. He gave the following description about the “particle gun’s” operation:

The nozzle would actually send concentrated beams of particles through the free air, of such tremendous energy which they are going to bring down a fleet of 10,000 enemy airplanes at a distance of 200 miles away from a defending border of the nation, and it is going to cause armies to drop dead in their tracks.

Good Guy Tesla has ultimately decided not to create his “death ray” as it is going to be too easy for countries to destroy each other. Several attempts at stealing his “death ray” plans were made, but the thieves always left empty-handed.

One interesting fact about Nikola Tesla is that he is also known as “The Man Who Invented the 20th Century”.

3. The oscillator of Tesla.

This was for sure an earthquake machine. This steam-powered oscillator was patented in 1893, and it was originally intended to be a steam-powered electric generator.

Tesla has been experimenting with his machine at his Houston Street lab, and he allegedly generated a resonance of a few buildings. As the speed of the machine was growing more and more, it started oscillating at the resonance frequency of the building in which he lived. At this point, he took a sledgehammer and decided to destroy his experiment, as well as the device.

Allan L. Benson:

Tesla claimed that in a few weeks he could set the crust of the earth into such a state of vibration which is would rise and fall hundreds of feet and practically destroy the civilization. A continuation of this process would probably split the earth in two, said Tesla.

4. Improved airships.

Firstly, Tesla had the idea for the solar-powered drones which we have today. His idea was a bit bigger though. He envisioned airships which would take passengers from New York to London in only three hours, drawing power from the atmosphere, and never needing to refuel.

5. The Flying Saucer.

Somewhere before the end of his life, Tesla was working on a “flying machine” which used anti-gravity to fly. The description below sounds a lot like an alien spaceship:

My flying machine is going to have wings or propellers. When you see it on the ground, you are never going to think that it was a flying machine. It will have the ability to move at will through the air in any possible direction with perfect safety, as well as at higher speeds than have yet been reached, no matter of the weather and obvious of holes in the air or downward currents.

It is going to ascend in such currents if desired. Also, it can remain stationary in the air, even in the wind, for a great length of time. The lifting power that it will have is not going to depend upon any such delicate devices as the bird has to employ but upon positive mechanical action.